What to Expect
At Clinics:
What You Can Access as a Minor in NYS
In New York State, you have the legal right to access certain types of healthcare without needing a parent or guardian's permission. This includes:
Birth control (like the pill, patch, or condoms)
Pregnancy testing and options counseling
STI testing and treatment
Emergency contraception (Plan B)
You can go to many clinics on your own, and your visit can stay private if you ask for confidential services.
Mental Health:
What Stays Private
Mental health services like counseling or therapy are confidential, which means what you share stays between you and your provider.
However, there are a few exceptions where providers are legally required to break confidentiality:
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself
If you say you plan to hurt someone else
If abuse or neglect is happening or suspected
Outside of these situations, what you say in therapy will not be shared without your consent.
Insurance & Billing: What You Need to Know
If you use your parent’s insurance to pay for a service, there is a chance they could get a document called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
This can include the type of service you received, even if the visit was confidential.
To keep things private:
Ask the clinic staff: “Will this show up on my parent’s insurance?”
Look for clinics that offer free, low-cost, or confidential care regardless of insurance
Some clinics may let you pay in cash or apply for sliding scale services
For more information on free or low-cost clinics